Machine for bending articles



May 11, 1948. s. E. KEAGLE MACHINE FOR BENDING ARTIC'LES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1944 mm R.

INVENTOR.

STANLEY E. KEAGLE Om vow llvm ATTORNEK.

May ll, 1948. s. E. KEAGLE MACHINE FOR BENDING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1944 /l//IIIII/I/I/II//I/Il//I//IIE lNVENToR'.

sTANLEY E. KEAGLE ATTORNE Y May 11,' 1948. s. E. KEAGLE MACHINE FOR BENI DING ARTICLES 4 she'ets-sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, '1944 Flo. 6

IOI

INVENTOR.

STANLEY E. KEAGL'E May 11, 1948. S E KEAGLE 2441275 cHINE FoR the horizontal cylinder 22, is designated 25, and the Construction and arrangement will be such that at all times the pistons 25, 25 will be at opposite sides of the opening 24, as said pistons are disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings. A connecting rod on each piston 25 is represented 26, and the connecting rods 25, 26 extend outwardly from the pistons 25, 25 and pass, as at 21, through the closure heads 23, 23. As shown, the connecting rods 26, 26 are of equal length. Said connecting rods are slidably disposed in the cylinder closure heads, and the outer end of each connecting rod rigidly supports a thrust member 28 situated inspaced relation to the adjacent end wall 18. lThe pistons 25, 25, the connecting rods 2:6, 26 and the thrust members 28, 28 are all in alined relation at the longitudinal axis of the horizontal'cylinder 22.

The front wall 21 of the frame 15 is cut awayv to provide a longitudinal passage 29 extending horizontally from end to end of the machine, and a horizontal stationary die 30 at the rear of said longitudinal passage 29 is rigidly supported, as at 31, upon a lower portion of the front wall 21. The stationary die 30 is situated at location somewhat above the electric motor '16, the valve housing with valve 11 and the pump 18 and considerably below the horizontal cylinder 22, and as shown said stationary die is parallel with said horizontal cylinder.

A substantially horizontal movable die 32, complemental to the stationary die 30, is fixedly carried, as denoted at 33, by a substantially horizontal block 34 which spans the major portion of the distance between the end walls 10, 19 of the frame 15. The horizontal block 34 is of rectilinear configuration, and the movable die 32 is as disclosed below and vertically alined with said horizontal block. A flat, substantially horizontal upper surface of the horizontal block 34 is denoted 35.

The inner surfaces 35, 36 of the end walls 18. 18 rigidly support, in any suitable and convenient manner, oppositely disposed, stationary guide elements 31, 31, and each of said stationary guide elements 31 is constituted as an L-shaped piece including a relatively long, vertical leg 38 and'a comparatively short, horizontal leg 39. The opposite side edges 40, 40 of the vertical leg 38 of each stationary guide element 31 are parallel with each other and are perpendicular to the horizontal leg 39 of the corresponding stationary guide element 31. Each of the opposite end portions of the substantially horizontal block 34 is pivotally connected, as at 41, to oppositely disposed, movable guide elements 42, v42, including a'movable guide element 42 of each set of movable guide elements at the front and a movable guide element 42 of each set at the rear of said substantially horizontal block 34. The movable guide elements 42, 42 of each set of movable guide elements are parallel, and each movable guide element 42 is retained by the corresponding pivotal connection, at 41, in contiguous relation with or closely adjacent relation to the substantially Vhorizontal block 34. 1

Each movable guide element 42 is as shown a fiat strip of material and includesa curvilinear inner portion 43 overlapping the adjacent end portion of theisubstantially horizontal block 34 and receiving the connecting means 41, which connecting means is situated at the midwidth of said substantially horizontal block and at the midlength of the corresponding movable guide element, and each movable guide element 42 also includes a guide portion 44 thereof which extends beyond the corresponding end of the substantially horizontal block. The inner surfaces 45, 45 of the guide portions 44, 44 are parallel with each other and with the opposite side edges 40, 40 of the vertical leg 38 of the stationary guide element 31 at the corresponding end of the frame 15.

The overall distance between the inner surfaces 45, 45 of the guide portions 44, 4,4 of each set of movable guide elements 42, 42 is a trifle greater than a measurement representing the width of the vertical leg 38 of each guide element '31, which vertical legs: 38 are as disclosed of equal width, and the guide portions 44, 44 of each set of movable guide elements overlie the opposite side edges 40, 40 of the vertical leg 38 of the stationary guide element 31 at the corresponding end of said frame 15.

The construction and arrangement are such that when the stationary and movable guide elements are assembled, in the manner as before set forth, the substantially horizontalblock 34 will be mounted upon the end walls 19, 19 of the frame for vertical sliding movement, as will be; apparent. Said substantially horizontal block 342 is disposed in spaced, parallel relation to the horizontal cylinder 22, between said horisontal cylinder and the stationary die 30.V Stated otherwise, the substantially horizontal block 34 is below and suitably spaced from the horizontal cylinder 22, and the movable die 32, carried by said substantially horizontal block, is above and sultably spaced from the stationary die 30.

As will be clear from Fig. l of the drawings, the overall length of the substantially horizontal block 34 is less than a measurement representing the distance between the vertical legs 38, 38 of the oppositely disposed stationary guide elements 31, 31, so that the machine includesV provision for relative rocking or Swinging movement between each of the opposite end portions of said substantially horizontal block and the movable guide elements 42, 42 at the corresponding end of the frame 15. That is to say, the substantially horizcntal block 34 is mounted to be capable of having rocking or Swinging movement in a vertical plane disposed longitudinally of said substantially horizontal block, as well as to be capable lof having upward and downward movement in the machine.

Speaking generally, the substantially horizontal block 34 and the movable die 32 carried thereby are adapted to -be depressed, or moved to- Ward the stationary die 30, in response to pressure of oil or other fl'uid forced into the horizontal cylinder 22 by way of the opening 24, and to be elevated, or moved away from said stationary die, in response to resiliently actuated mechanism. And each of the opposite end portions of the substantially horizontal block 34 is adapted to be independently actuated both during depression and elevation of said substantially horizontal block.

To the end that the substantially horizontal block 34 can be depressed in response to pressure of oil or other fiuid in the horizontal cylinder 22, a pair of rocker arms, each denoted 46, are suitably and conveniently mounted, as at 41, upon the frame of the machine for vertical Swinging movement. As will be clear from Fig. 1, there is a rocker arm 45 ladjacent and at the outer side of each thrust member 2B. A longer, upper leg 48 of each rocker arm 46, above the pivotal connection 41, rotatably supports a' roller 49 engaged ment of a movable die, such increased with outward adjustment of said stopS 61,61.-`--- w It will be apparent that the presence of mechanism for adjustably limiting the extent of down- Ward'movement of the movable die in a machine of the present character is provision whereby bending operations which need not necessarilybe those dictated by the shapes of the complemental stationary and movable dies, such as 30 and 32, of said machine can be accomplished. That is to say,'by causing the extent of downward moveas 32, to be adjustably limited to different positions above they-position Wherel complemental' stationary and movable dies, such as 39 and 32, would dictate the shapes of the bends, metal or material can be bent to varying degrees, extents or shapes. By way of explanation, metal or material bent by the working surfaces 65 and 66 of the stationary and movable dies 39 and 32 Will, When said dies are brought together to accomplish the greatest possible bending of the metal or material, have a substantially right angular bend, but in instances wheredownward movement of the movable die 32 is checked short of position to accomplish a right angular bend, the metal or material will have a bend which is less than right angular.

' The stops 81, 61 are alined with the horizontal cylinder 22 and are situated above and outwardly of the stops 59, 59. Evidently, said stops 91, 51, being separately and independently adjustable, can be situated soas to be equally spaced from the horizontal cylinder 22 or unequally spaced from said horizontal cylinder. In instances where metal or material to' be bent to extent less than that dictated by the shapes of the working surfaces of the stationary and movable dies is of uniform thickness at its opposite end or. side portions, the stops 91, 51 will be adjusted to be equally spaced from the horizontal cylinder 22, and in instances where metal or material to 'be bent to extent less than that dictated by the shapes of the working surfaces of the stationary and movable dies is of different thicknesses atl its opposite end or side portions, said stops 91, 9-1 will be adjusted to be unequally spa'ced' f'from said horizontal cylinder 22. The difference in spacing will correspond to the amount :of-'difference between'the magnitudes of the thicknesses at said opposite end or side portions of the metal or material, as will be understood. And, too, the stops 61, 61 will be unequally spaced from the horizontal cylinder 22 when it is desired to cause unequal bending of the opposite endor side portionsof metal or material. Simply stated, the stops 61, 61 are adapted to be adjusted to positions intended to permitaccomplishment of the bends desired. i j

A reservoir 11 for oil or 'other fiuid is as disclosed situated within the frame i at location adjacent the electric motor 16. A pipe connection 12 leads vfrom a lower portion of the reservoir 1! to an inlet 13 of the pump l8, and a pipe conne'ction.15 leads to an upper portion of said reservoir. A pipe connection 16 lea'ds from outiets 11 of said pump |8 to an inlet 18 of a valve housing 19 of. the valve housing with valve l1, and the pipe connection 15 leads from an outlet 89 of said valve housing 19. A pipe connection 81 leads from an outlet 82 of the valve housing 19 to the opening 24 in the horizontal cylinder 212.

The valve housing 19 includes a fiuid passageway 83' connecting the inlet 18lwith the outlet 82 and a controlled fluid passageway 84 for selectively connecting the inlet 18 |and the. fluid pas-- sageway 83 With and-disconnecting :said inlet 18= 85 is at the base of a concavity 81 of 'thifluidi passagevvay Bli in surrounding relation to' a port 88 of said last mentioned fiuid passageway and at the side of said port 88 opposite the iilet 18 and adjacent the outlet 89. A valve stem 89' for the valve 85 is slidable in a closure plug 99 for the portion of the fiuid passageway 84,whic h is constituted as the concavity 811' Said closure plug 99 is snugly fitted into an openingfl9l in the valve housing 19 and is situated inV alinement' with the port 88, at the side of said port adjacent the-'outlet 89. The'i'closure plug 99 consists'fof two pieces of 'material 'between which a gasket 92 is positioned in surrounding relation'to'the valve stem 89. A coil spring 93, situated in the fluid passageway 84' and in a -pocket 94'of the valve housing 19 eontiguous with said fiuid passageway 84, is under compression' between Ithe bottom wall 95 -of said pocket 9G and the valve normally to retain said valve in-open position and against the inner end of the closure plug 99, as the valve is disclosed in Flg. 54 of the drawings-f- A support for the valve housing-19 'is denoted 96, and operating means for the-valve '85 includes'. a yoke 91 and an actuating lever 93x The base v99 of said yoke 91 includes a pocket im] which rer-f ceives the-outer end-portion of the valve steni;189,l-`

and a 'coil spring Hil, -stronger than'th'e coil spring 93, is situated in said pocket and confinedv between the bottom Wall 'of the pocket and-the outer end of the valve stem. The -inner end of' the actuating lever 98 is pivotally' connected, as at 192, to a portion of the'support 96 situated below and in spaced relation to' the v'alve housing 19, and the outer end 'portion 193 fo'f'said. actuating lever 98 extends forwardly' through an" elongated slot 194 inailcwer portion of the' front- Wall 2! of the frame E5 to be conveniently -accessi'ble. Legs (95, Hifi-of the yoke 91 are pivotally connected, as'at 196, 'to the: base 99 of'said yoke and are pivotallyconnected, as at' 101,170 any intermediate portion of the 'actuating `lever 98. Said yoke 91 will evidently become depressed in response to downward Swinging movement of the outer end portion 193 of the actuating lever 98,' and depression of the yoke a sufficient distance Will evidently cause the valve 85 to'become seated under resilie'ntfipressure against the valve seat 89. The coil spring93 will cause saidfvalvex85. to be moved to open position-as in Fig. 5, immediately upon release of the yoke 91. In theI disclosure as made, 'the outer end portion 193 of the -actuating lever-98fis constituted as a pedal for :foot operation. i I The pump R8 is of rotary type;l The electric motor IE includes a shaft |98 for'd'riving'a rotor |99 ofsaid pump G8 situated within a pump chamber HU of the'pump. When s'aidzpump 'IS' 'is operated, oil or other' fluid will'be causedtoibe drawninto' the pump chamber llllsfronif-the reservoir'1i, through the'pip'e connection 12`-and the'pump inlet 13, andi forced from said pump chamber into the valve housing 19, through the uuets- 11, the pipe connection and the -yaive housing inlet 18.vv When the valve"85 is-'ifiopen' the fluid passageway 83 and the pipe connection 8| tothe horizontal cylinder 22 thus'to cause the substantially horizontal blockV 34 and the movable die 32 to be moved toward the stationary die 30. Upon Completion of bending of the piece of material, the operator will release the actuating lever 98 thus to permit the coil spring 93 to elevate the valve 85 and cause it to be situated to connect the inlet 18 and the outlet 80. Pressure of oil or other fluid will then be relieved in the horizontal cylinder 22, and the coil springs 58 will cause the opposite end portions of the substantially horizontal block 34 and the movable die' 32 to be moved away from the stationary die 30.

` What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder and a member to be actuated, of a connecting rod upon each of said' pistons, rocker arms including a rocker arm adjacent each of said connecting rods, said member to be actuated having a working surface adjacent each of said rocker arms, a pivotal support for each of said rocker arms, each of said pivotal supports being situated at an intermediate portion of its corresponding rocker arm, a leg of each rocker arm at one side of its pivotal support'having engagement with a portion of the connecting rod which is adjacent the rocker arm at location spaced from the corresponding piston and a leg'of each rocker arm at the opposite side of its pivotal support having sliding engagement with a working surface of said member adjacent said rocker arm, means for causing fluid under pressure to be applied to said 'pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons, resiliently actuated mechanism and means for causing pressure of fluid within said cylinder to be relieved, pressure of fluid under pressure within said cylinder being adapted to cause said pistons to have tendency to be moved apart, the legs of said rocker arms engaged with said connecting rods to have tendency to be moved away from said cylinder in direction longitudinally thereof and the legs of 'said rocker arms engaged with' theworking surfaces of said member and said working surfaces to have tendency to be moved away from said cylinder in direction transversely thereof against action of the resiliently 'actuated mechanism and said resiliently actuated mechanism being adapted to cause said member and the legs of said rocker arms engaged against the working surfaces of said member to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder in direction transversely thereof, the legs of said rocker arms engaged with said connecting rods to have tendency to be moved toward said cylin- ,der in direction longitudinally thereof and said pistons to have tendency to be moved toward each other when pressure of fluid within said cylinder is relieved.

2. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder, a'movable die and a stationary die, of a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, rocker arms including a rocker arm adjacent each of said connecting rods, a working surface rigid with said movable die and adjacent each of said rocker arms, a pivotal support for each of said rocker arms, each of said pivotal supports being situated at an intermediate portion of its corresponding rocker arm, a leg of each rocker arm at one side of its pivotal support having engagement with a portion of the connecting rod which is adjacent the rocker arm at location spaced from the corresponding piston and a leg of each rocker 'arm at the opposite side of its pivotal support having sliding engagement with a working surface rigid with said movable die and adjacent the rocker arm, means for causing fluid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons, resiliently actuated mechanisms, a flexible operative conection between each of said resiliently actuated mechanisms and spaced apart means for -causing pressure of fluid within said cylinder to be relieved, pressure of fluid under pressure within said cylinder being adapted to cause said pistons to have tendency to be moved apart, the legs of said rocker arms engaged with said connecting rods to have tendency to be moved i away from said cylinder in direction longitudinally thereof and the legs 'of said rocker arms engaged with the working surfaces rigid with said movable die to have tendency to be moved away from said cylinder indirection transversely thereof against action of the resiliently actu ated mechanisms and said resiliently actuated mechanisms being adapted to cause spaced apart i portions of said movable die and the legs of said rocker arms engaged against the working surfaces of the movable die to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder in direction transversely thereof, the legs of said rocker arms engaged with said connecting rods to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder in direction longitudinally thereof and said pistons to have tandency to be moved toward each other upon relief of pressure of fluid within said cylinder.

3. In combination, a frame, a cylinder rigidly supported upon said frame, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder, a movable die, a stationary die, a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, an operative connection between each of said connecting rods and said movable die, means for causing fluid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and'bee tween the pistons to cause said pistons to have tendency to be moved apart and said connecting rods to be moved outwardly of said cylinder thus to cause said movable die to be moved in direc-| tion toward said stationary die, oppositely-disposed stationary guides rigid with said frame, oppositely disposed movable guides adapted to be slid along said stationary guides, means pivotally connecting said movable die and said movable guides with each other for relative Swinging movement in a plane extending longitudinally of the movable die, means for causing pressure of fluid within said cylinder to be relieved and a' resiliently actuated mechanism urging said mov-` able die in direction away from said stationary`l die. Y

4. The combination as specified in claim 3, means for adjustably limiting the extent to which' fluid under pressure within said cylinder canA cause said'movable die to be actuated'in direction toward said stationary die, and means'for adjustably limiting the extent to which said resiliently actuated mechanisms can cause said movable die to be actuated-in direction away from said statonary die. V I

5. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder and a member to be actuated, of a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, rocker arms including a rocker arm adjacent each of said connecting rods, said member to be actuated having a working sur;l

face adjacent each of said rocker arms, a pivotal support for each of said rocker arms, each ofs'aid portions of said movable die and- ..ae4:1,ers

pivotal :supports being situated at an intermediateziportion of its correspondingrocker arm; alleg oh-each rocker arm atone side of its pivotalzsup- 'port having sliding engagement with a portion o'ftheconnecting rod which isa'djacent therocker arm atilocation spaced fromithe corresponding piston and a leg of each rocker arm at the :opposite side of its pivotal support having sliding engagement with a working surface of said member adjacent said rocker arm, means for causing fiuid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons, resiliently actuated mechanism and means for causing pressure of fiuid within said cylinder to be relieved, pressure of fiuid under pressure within said cylinder being adapted to cause said pistons, to have tendency to be moved apart, the legs of said rocker arms engaged with said connecting rods to have tendency to bemoved away from said cylinder in direction longitudinally and transversely thereof and the legs of said rocker arms engaged with the working surfaces of said member and said working surfaces to have tendency to be moved away from said cylinder in direction longitudinally and transversely thereof against action of the resiliently actuated mechanism and said resiliently actuated mechanism being adapted to cause said member and the legs of said rocker arm engaged against the working surfaces of said member to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder in direction longtudinally and transversely thereof, the legs of said rocker arms engaged With said connecting rods to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder in direction longitudinally and transversely thereof and said pistons to have tendency to be moved toward each other when pressure of fluid within said cylinder is relieved.

6. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder, a movable die and a stationary die, of an operative connection between ea'ch of said pistons and spaced apart portions of said movable die, means for causing fiuid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons to cause said pistons to be moved apart and said spaced apart portions of said movable die to be actuated in direction toward said stationary die, means for causing pressure of fiuid within said cylinder to be relieved, resiliently actuated mechanism cfor causing said spaced apart portions of said movable die to be actuated in direction away from said stationary die and said pistons to be moved toward each other upon relief of pressure of fiuid within said cylinder after actuation of said spaced apart portions of the movable die in direction toward the stationary die in response to pressure of fiuid under pressure within said cylinder, and means for adjustably limiting the extent to which fiuid under pressure within said cylinder can cause said spaced apart portions of said movable' die to be actuated in direction toward said stationary die.

7. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder, a movable die and a stationary die, of a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, rocker arms adapted to be actuated by said connecting rods to cause said movable die to be actuated, means for causing fiuid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons to cause said pistons to have tendency to be moved apart and said connecting rods to actuate said rocker armsftovfcauselsaid movable die to be moved in direction toward said sta- Ltiena-ry'ldie;cppositely'disposedistationary guides, oppositely disposed movable guides adaptedito be slid along said stationary guides, means pivotally connecting said movable die and said movabIe'guides to each other for relative swinging movementiin aplan-e-'extending 'longitudinally of the'V movable" die, 'and' spaced apart, resiliently actuated mechanisms for urging said movable die in direction away from said stationary die.

8. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder and a member to be actuated, of a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, rocker arms including a rocker arm adjacent each of s-aid connecting rods, said member to be actuated having a working surface adjacent each of said rocker arms, a pivotal support for each of said rocker arms, each of said pivotal supports being situated at an intermediate portion of its corresponding rocker arm, a leg of each rocker arm at one side of its pivotal support having sliding engagement with a portion of the connecting rod which is adjacent the rocker arm at location spaced from the corresponding piston and a leg of each rocker arm at the opposite side df its pivotal vsupport having sliding engagement with a working surface of said member adjacent said rocker arm, means for cau'sing fiuid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons, pressure of fiuid under pressure within said cylinder being adapted to cause said member to have tendency to be moved away from said cylinder, and resiliently actuated means for causing said member to have tendency to be moved toward said cylinder.

9. The combination as specified in claim 8,

'wherein said resiliently actuated means is con-\ stituted as spaced apart, resiliently actuated mechanisms pvotally connected to said member.

10. In a machine of the character described, a movable die, a stationary die, spaced apart means engageable against said movable die for urging it toward said stationary die, oppositely disposed stationary guides, oppositely disposed movable guides adapted to be slid along said stationary guides, means pvotally connecting said movable die and said movable guides with each other for relative swinging movement in a plane extending longitudinally of the movable die, and spaced apart, resiliently actuated mechanisms for urging said movable die in direction away from said stationary die.

11. The combination with a cylinder, spaced apart pistons within said cylinder, a movable die and a stationary die, of a connecting rod upon each of said pistons, rocker arms adapted to be i actuated by said connecting rods to cause said movable die to be actuated, means for causing fiuid under pressure to be applied to said pistons at location within said cylinder and between the pistons to cause said pistons to have tendency to be moved apart and said connecting rods to actuate said rocker arms to cause said movable die to be moved in direction toward said stationary die, means cfor urging said movable die in direction away from said stationary die, and means for adjustably limiting the extent to which fiuid under pressure within said cylinder can cause said movable die to be actu-V ated in direction toward said stationary die.

STANLE'Y E. KEAGLE.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED Number Name Dat 1,oas,93s Rowntree Mar. 3, 1914 'The following references are of record in the 1371300 Thrift Dec. 11, 1923 file of this patent: i 1,690,398 Bollinger Nov. 6, 1928 TED ENT 5 117171735 Roy June 18, 1929 UNI STATES FAT S 2,o48,524 svenson July 21, 1936 Number Name Date 2224368 moske Dec. 17, 1940 986,809 Derbyshire et, al. Mar. 14, 1911 1,003,497 Optenberg Sept. 19, 1911 

